With three basketball courts being played simultaneously, hundreds in attendance and 41 schools taking part in the men’s basketball jamboree, the event lived up to its name.
Cerritos College played host to the SoCal Fall JUCO men’s basketball jamboree, a three-day event that extended from Friday, Sept. 19, to Sunday, Sept. 21.
The juncture gave players, from 41 community college teams originating in Southern Calif., an opportunity to showcase their basketball talents to scouts and coaches from NCAA-Division-I affiliated programs.
The purpose was solely to evaluate potential recruits, and the outcome of the games did not necessarily count for or against each respective team.
The Cerritos College men’s basketball team went up against Chaffey College, Riverside College, San Diego Mesa College and L.A. Pierce College.
The Falcons began the first game sluggish, falling behind and playing catch-up through most of the match against the Panthers.
In addition, the Falcons lost two starters within the first five minutes of the game.
Late in the game, a flagrant foul was called against the team, allowing the Panthers two free-throw attempts and possession.
“It was just a play I was trying to make on the ball and I grabbed one of (the Panthers’) players and (referees) called a flagrant foul, but I tried to help the player up; it was nothing intentional,” guard Brain Nebo, said.
The contentious call would decide the fate for Cerritos, giving Chaffey College a two-possession lead and, ultimately, the win.
“Everything is real lighthearted, we’re just trying to get better and figure out the areas where we need to improve, and after one game, I think we’re figuring that out already. It’s not really a big deal for us, we’re just trying to get better,” Jeff Gonzalez, forward, said about the end result.
Starting the season with players coming off their red-shirt seasons from last semester, head coach Russ May came into the fall jamboree anew.
“I didn’t know what to expect because we have so many new guys, but I thought everybody performed pretty well. I think (the players) showed that they’re good players, very coachable and they’re worthy of being recruited,” May said.
The following schools participated in the event:
- Cerritos
- Cypress
- San Diego Mesa
- Victor Valley
- Fullerton
- Irvine Valley
- Southwestern
- Cuyamaca
- Bakersfield
- Chaffey
- Miramar
- El Camino
- Santa Monica
- San Diego City
- El Camino
- Moorpark
- Santa Ana
- Rio Hondo
- Long Beach City
- Orange Coast
- Los Angeles South West
- Citrus
- Los Angeles Harbor
- West Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Pierce
- Ventura
- Mt. San Jacinto
- Imperial Valley
- Los Angeles Valley
- San Bernadino Valley
- Mira Costa
- Antelope Valley
- Saddleback
- Canyons
- Palomar
- Los Angeles Trade-Tech
- College of the Desert
- Pasadena
- Riverside
- Cuesta
- Grossmont
